Is it much easier to get 'the birth experience you want' if it's something the midwives like?

[cerys74]

Just wondering really.

If I walked into my midwife's office and said I'd like a homebirth, active labour and also a birthing pool, I bet she'd try her damnedest to make that happen. But if I wanted a hospital birth with immediate epidural upon arrival so I didn't have to feel any pain at all (or possibly an elective c-section with no medical need) I'm willing to bet she would be nowhere near as enthusiastic.

Surely the drive to give women 'the birth experience you want' should encompass the medical end of the spectrum as well as the non-medical, in the interests of fairness? I'd be interested to know the experiences of anyone who wanted a more medicalised birth or couldn't get a more natural one....

Bump

I don't think your assumptions are fair actually. MN is awash with stories of women who have had to battle for homebirths, who have been encouraged to lie down, who have been given all sorts of excuses to avoid being allowed in the pool...

Sadly, I think many women struggle to have the birth that they would prefer to have, and that includes both ends of the intervention spectrum.

But also, there are reasons why certain choices may not be the best idea.

I am very supportive of all birth choices (provided they are educated decisions so the person understands what they are deciding) and totally agree with you on that point.

Well, I wanted an epidural ASAP and the midwifes were very supportive about it. I was given it too, both times!

I wanted an ELCS (first birth) and my community midwife was very supportive (despite my feelings that she was much more for the natual approach), she even arranged my second opinion when I was refused by first consultant. She was fab with second ELCS too.

I think the concept of choosing 'the birth experience you want', is really a very new one and is very idealistic as, unless you have an ELSCS, nothing can be guarenteed. I think for most people it has been about getting through the experience with as little trauma as possible.
Obviously, that means lots of different things for every different person. But I think from where most mw's are coming from is the aspect of womens health overall. All the research shows that an unassisted vaginal birth has the best outcomes for mothers and babies 'health wise' and it is their job to promote womens health and well being. Saying that, lots of mw's understand that women are individuals with their own beliefs and life experiences that may sway women towards one way of birth than another. Mw's can be concerned though that those reasons can be ill-informed. But i think you'll find that women are mostly supported in their decisions but you do find women being opposed to their decisions with both homebirths and ELCS's, depending on the individual HCP's attitude, which is wrong.

newyears - fair point that I might not be giving an accurate portrayal of the situation. I imagine one of the reasons that midwives are generally pro a less medicalised birth is because up until fairly recently women didn't really have a choice in the matter! As you say, as long as the decision is an informed one then women should be free to choose the type of birth they want.

addictediam - considering the fight I had to even get G&A, I am very jealous!!

chynah - wow, I didn't realise that they would even let you get as far as 1st consultant for ELCS on 1st birth! I'd have been sorely tempted by that if I'd thought it was a possible option...

BadDay - you're right, it is quite a new idea. I understand that the midwives are promoting the procedures which are thought to be best for women. I just object to feeling demonised if I stray from the perceived birthing guidebook while still being told that of course it's all up to me! If HCPs are imposing their own personal opinions on women's birth plans then that is just plain unacceptable.

I find it reassuring that at least some women manage to get the births they prefer (or aspects thereof, like some bloody analgesisa)!! Personally I just wanted a live healthy baby and not to be too battered myself. I may have actually written that on my birth plan :)